REAL GOOD NEWS IN EDMONTON: GROCER RINGS UP TICKET SALES

The Edmonton Oilers successful met the season-ticket sales
requirement imposed by the NHL to qualify for a league subsidy
when Real Canadian Superstores put the team over the 13,000
minimum, according to the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. The team now
qualifies for a $7M NHL assistance package for small-market
teams, seen as imperative toward keeping the team in Edmonton.
The grocery chain bought 1,000 tickets costing in excess of
C$800,000 and put the season-ticket sales at 13,482 for '96-97.
That, combined with the sale of rinkboard ads and the purchase of
95% of the club's luxury boxes, meets the NHL's conditions. A
spokesperson for Superstores said the deal, signed on Thursday,
was a commitment to purchase at least 1,000 tickets and a pledge
to buy "even more if the team was more than 1,000 short of its
goal." The tickets will be resold to shoppers. Local Businesses
that purchased plans will be included in a special directory
prepared for distribution to all Edmonton households. The team
also unveiled new colors, replacing the orange trim with copper
and featuring a much a darker blue (Brian Laghi, Toronto GLOBE &
MAIL, 6/1).